Teachers on transfer cry foul

GEORGE TOWN - Over 100 teachers from Penang island are fuming that they are being transferred to the mainland and at short notice.

Some have been posted to schools in Sungai Petani and Kulim in a directive that takes effect from this month.

The teachers said they had only received their transfer letters dated Nov 26 on Dec 13 at their respective schools.

An English teacher in Air Itam said he was transferred to a school in Bukit Mertajam, which is about 40km from his house.

“I will have to fork out an extra RM25 per day for the journey and toll charges which equals to RM500 per month,” he said on Saturday.

He said about 80 teachers had submitted their appeals to the state Education Department.

He claimed that some teachers had decided to apply for six months unpaid leave while others had taken forms to apply for optional retirement.

State education director Ibrahim Mohamad said the redeployment was necessary as there were excess teachers on the island.

He said a meeting would be held before the opening of the new school term to look into the matter and also to consider the appeals submitted by the affected teachers.

NUTP secretary-general Loke Yim Pheng said the Government should pay for the travelling expenses of the transferred teachers.

It was reported that about 100 teachers in Selangor were upset over their transfers when some of them were apparently sent about 100km away from their present schools.

But only 20 out of 100 teachers involved in the Selangor redeployment exercise have submitted appeals to the Education Ministry.

Lok said the teachers can expect to know the outcome by the end of the month.

Teachers who have received their transfer letters do not have to report to their new schools but wait until the Selangor Education Department issues a new letter, she said.

Lok also claimed that there were a few cases where the teachers were transferred out by the school heads who abused their powers.

“We have contacted the director of Education of Selangor and he assured us that the appeals will be given serious consideration,” she added.

Teachers who need help are advised to contact the NUTP office, she said. - Star